Over 23k power theft cases lodged between Apr and Dec: Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited

Ranchi: The Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) registered 23,494 theft cases during the financial year 2025–26 between April and Dec 2025, it announced on Sunday. According to officials, power theft was detected through illegal methods such as hooking, meter bypassing, and tampering with metering devices.During the past year, JBVNL recovered Rs 2,672.17 lakh through penalties imposed in electricity theft cases. A total of 21,902 FIRs were lodged, involving a cumulative assessed amount of Rs 4,294.94 lakh from Mar to Oct. Jan recorded the highest number of FIRs at 3,162, followed by Mar with 2,834 cases and Feb with 2,693 cases. The lowest number of FIRs was registered in Oct with 858 and Sept with 976.As part of continuous enforcement, state-level anti-power theft campaigns are conducted regularly. In this series, a major state-wide raid was carried out by the Anti-Power Theft (APT) wing of the headquarters on Friday and Saturday. During the two-day operation, 119 teams comprising officers up to the regional level inspected 7,826 premises, detecting electricity theft at 1,154 locations. FIRs were registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Electricity Act, 2003, with the assessed amount totalling Rs 182.73 lakh.Officials said that from April 2025 to Oct 2025 alone, 18,830 premises were booked for power theft. Anti-theft drives are conducted for approximately five days every month from the headquarters level. In confirmed cases, penalties are imposed, power connections are disconnected, and legal action is initiated, with provisions for imprisonment of up to five years.JBVNL general manager (anti-power theft) Shravan Kumar said, “The raids are carried out every month. Preventing power theft not only helps conserve financial resources but also ensures a reliable and uninterrupted power supply for consumers. The corporation will continue its state-level enforcement drives, with a focus on stricter implementation of the Indian Electricity Act, 2003, and promoting greater accountability among electricity consumers."Consumers were urged to refrain from electricity theft. Information related to power theft in urban and rural areas, factories, shops, and other establishments across all 24 districts can be shared via WhatsApp or message, with complete address details, to the general manager (anti-power theft) at 9431135515. The identity and contact details of informants are kept strictly confidential.